Non-invasive stress evaluation in domestic horses (Equus caballus): impact of housing conditions on sensory laterality and immunoglobulin A.
Abstract: The study aimed to evaluate sensory laterality and concentration of faecal immunoglobulin A (IgA) as non-invasive measures of stress in horses by comparing them with the already established measures of motor laterality and faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs). Eleven three-year-old horses were exposed to known stressful situations (change of housing, initial training) to assess the two new parameters. Sensory laterality initially shifted significantly to the left and faecal FGMs were significantly increased on the change from group to individual housing and remained high through initial training. Motor laterality shifted significantly to the left after one week of individual stabling. Faecal IgA remained unchanged throughout the experiment. We therefore suggest that sensory laterality may be helpful in assessing acute stress in horses, especially on an individual level, as it proved to be an objective behavioural parameter that is easy to observe. Comparably, motor laterality may be helpful in assessing long-lasting stress. The results indicate that stress changes sensory laterality in horses, but further research is needed on a larger sample to evaluate elevated chronic stress, as it was not clear whether the horses of the present study experienced compromised welfare, which it has been proposed may affect faecal IgA.
© 2020 The Authors.
Publication Date: 2020-02-19 PubMed ID: 32257351PubMed Central: PMC7062079DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191994Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research explores the use of sensory laterality and faecal immunoglobulin A as non-invasive stress indicators in horses, assessing these against established measures, and evaluating their correlation with changes in housing and training.
Objective of the research
- This study aims to evaluate new, non-invasive methods for measuring stress in horses. The researchers explore sensory laterality, which refers to the preferential use of one sensory organ or system over another, and faecal immunoglobulin A (IgA), a type of antibody that plays a crucial role in the immune function of mucous membranes.
Methodology
- The researchers studied eleven three-year-old horses, which were subjected to known stress-inducing scenarios like change of housing and initial training.
- The aim was to assess the impact of these conditions on sensory laterality and faecal IgA levels, comparing these with established stress indicators like motor laterality (one-sided bias in physical movement) and faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs), biochemical signs of stress.
Key findings
- Change from group to individual housing significantly shifted sensory laterality to the left and increased faecal FGMs. This high FGM level remained through the initial training phase.
- Motor laterality also shifted significantly to the left after one week of individual stabling, suggesting it may be a useful measure for long-term stress.
- There was no change in faecal IgA throughout the experiment, indicating that this measure may not be as sensitive or relevant in this context.
Implications of the research
- The results suggest that sensory laterality can be a useful tool for assessing acute, individual-level stress in horses. It presents as an objective behavioural parameter that is simple to observe.
- Further research is needed to evaluate these findings on a larger sample size, especially to explore the potential link between chronic elevated stress and faecal IgA, as it was unclear in this study whether the horses’ welfare change interfered with the faecal IgA.
Cite This Article
APA
Marr I, Preisler V, Farmer K, Stefanski V, Krueger K.
(2020).
Non-invasive stress evaluation in domestic horses (Equus caballus): impact of housing conditions on sensory laterality and immunoglobulin A.
R Soc Open Sci, 7(2), 191994.
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.191994 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department Equine Economics, Faculty Agriculture, Economics and Management, Nuertingen-Geislingen University, Neckarsteige 6-10, Nuertingen 72622, Germany.
- Behavioral Physiology of Livestock, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 17, Stuttgart 70599, Germany.
- Behavioral Physiology of Livestock, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 17, Stuttgart 70599, Germany.
- School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland KY16 9AJ, UK.
- Behavioral Physiology of Livestock, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 17, Stuttgart 70599, Germany.
- Department Equine Economics, Faculty Agriculture, Economics and Management, Nuertingen-Geislingen University, Neckarsteige 6-10, Nuertingen 72622, Germany.
- Zoology/Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, Regensburg 93053, Germany.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The author and co-authors of this manuscript have no competing interest.
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Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Krueger K, Gruentjens T, Hempel E. Wolf contact in horses at permanent pasture in Germany.. PLoS One 2023;18(8):e0289767.
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